Written Answers Wednesday 11 November 2009

Scottish Executive

Birds

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a pheasant reared for release is considered a wild bird.

Roseanna Cunningham: For the purposes of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 a pheasant is defined as a game bird and is therefore not included in the definition of wild bird except for the purposes of section 5 and 16 of the act.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the finding in the 2008/09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: First Findings  that in 32% of violent crime where the offender had a weapon the victim reported that it was a knife and what action it will take.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is working with the Violence Reduction Unit, Association of Chief Police Officers, local Community Safety Partnerships and other partners to tackle knife crime in Scotland.

  Through CashBack for Communities, we will invest at least £13 million through to 2011 in youth diversionary activities to help keep young people out of trouble and away from knives. We are investing £1.6 million between 2008-10, through the Violence Reduction Unit, to support the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV), an innovative gang violence reduction programme in the east end of Glasgow, which will also impact on knife crime. We are investing £500,000 in "No Knives, Better Lives", a young engagement campaign launched in May 2009. This year we have invested £400,000 in the Safer Streets programme, to support Community Safety Partnerships in delivering crime reduction measures, including knife crime.

Disabled People

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have fully implemented the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009.

Stewart Stevenson: The implementation of the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009 is a matter for local authorities, not the Scottish Government.

  The provisions of the act state that local authorities have until 30 September 2010 to initiate the statutory process for disabled parking spaces that they wish to make enforceable, and to remove those advisory disabled spaces that are no longer needed. In 2011, local authorities must report to Scottish ministers outlining their completed implementation process and then on an annual basis thereafter.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available on (a) the effectiveness of treatment of and (b) recovery from (i) drug and (ii) alcohol addiction.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Drugs Misuse Database (SDMD), which is being rolled out across Scotland, will track individuals as they progress through treatment. The intention is that overtime this database will be able to supply useful information on the effectiveness of treatment including recovery outcomes.

  Data on the number of people entering alcohol services for treatment is not held centrally. However, the Scottish Alcohol Needs Assessment research report estimated that, across Scotland in 2006-07, approximately 17,000 people accessed alcohol treatment services.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26679 on 17 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Employment

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial value of all contracts is for (a) skillseekers and (b) modern apprentices allocated to Dumfries and Galloway for 2009-10.

Fiona Hyslop: The full financial contract value of the contracts issued to training providers based in Dumfries and Galloway is £319,725 for skillseekers and £750,566 for modern apprenticeships.

  This may differ from end year values based on performance/uptake in-year. These figures include the costs for trainees who are trained by Dumfries and Galloway-based providers but live outside of the area, but excludes the value of contracts for other providers not based in the Dumfries and Galloway area, who have Dumfries and Galloway resident trainees.

Employment

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licenses have been issued to providers in Dumfries and Galloway for (a) skillseekers and (b) modern apprentices for 2009-10.

Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland has contracts with 11 training providers based in Dumfries and Galloway. Nine of these training providers have contracts for the delivery of Skillseekers and 10 have contracts for the delivery of modern apprenticeships.

Employment

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial contract value of licenses issued to providers in Dumfries and Galloway is for (a) skillseekers and (b) modern apprentices for 2009-10.

Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland issue contracts rather than licenses to training providers.

  The information contained in the answer to question S3W-27811 on 11 November 2009, on the total financial contract value for training providers based in Dumfries and Galloway therefore provides the answer to this question as well. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Flooding

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in the last two years to address the causes and effects of external flooding.

Stewart Stevenson: External flooding can be caused by insufficient capacity of the sewers to take the required volumes of sewerage or by operational issues such as blockages. In 2008-09, Scottish Water removed over 6,000 blockages, many of which were caused by customers disposing (illegally) of cooking fat down their sink or by flushing away sanitary waste. In most cases, instances of external flooding due to blockages are resolved through operational measures. For capacity issues, Scottish Water deals with some external sewer flooding as a consequence of investing to address internal flooding problems. In addition, where possible, Scottish Water speaks to local authorities about external sewer flooding when there are issues of surface water entering the sewers, as there can be practicable alternatives which divert this water away from the sewers in a safe manner.

Flooding

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014, Scottish Water will have a responsibility under a Priority 1 objective to address external flooding and, if not, whether it will take action to address its causes and effects.

Stewart Stevenson: During the period 2010-15, Scottish Water is directed to create and maintain a register of properties affected by external sewer flooding. Details of the objectives set for Scottish Water are available at:  www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/waterindustryscot/latest-news/swdirections .

  Scottish Water will be expected where possible to address issues of external sewer flooding through operational means.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Housing Association Grant was awarded to each registered social landlord in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last three financial years.

Alex Neil: Housing Association Grant is available to registered social landlords to acquire land or buildings and to build, convert or improve housing for rent or low cost home ownership.

  The following table provides details of the Housing Association Grant awarded to each registered social landlord in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last three financial years.

  

Registered Social Landlord
Dundee 2006-07
  (£ million)
Dundee 2007-08
  (£ million)
Dundee 2008-09
  (£ million)
Angus 2006-07
  (£ million)
Angus 2007-08
  (£ million)
Angus 2008-09
  (£ million)


Abertay Housing Association Ltd
0.477
1.798
0.641
0
0
0


Angus Housing Association Ltd
0.134
0.978
0.038
3.147
4.644
2.566


Ark Housing Association Ltd
0
0
0
0
0.001
0


Bield Housing Association Ltd
0.048
0.096
0.065
0.02
0.014
0.01


Cairn Housing Association Ltd
0.007
0.014
0.003
0
0
0.009


Hillcrest Housing Association Ltd
3.145
5.168
3.348
2.352
0.732
0.636


Home in Scotland Ltd
0.774
3.486
2.598
0
0
0


Margaret Blackwood Housing Association Ltd
0.412
2.073
0.917
0.712
0.132
0.009


Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association
3.317
0.028
0.03
0
0
0


Servite Housing Association (Scotland) Ltd
3.414
1.417
0.714
2.308
1.827
0.543


Trust Housing Association Ltd
0
0
0
0.582
0.014
0.022


Total
11.728
15.058
8.354
9.121
7.364
3.795



  The Dundee and Angus areas benefited from resources being brought forward by the Scottish Government into 2008-09 through the Accelerated Funding Programme. A £0.701 million allocation funded the acquisition of eight additional homes for rent in Dundee by Hillcrest Housing Association. A £0.525 million allocation funded the acquisition of land in Angus by Angus Housing Association.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Housing Association Grant was awarded to each registered social landlord in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last three financial years, expressed in real terms.

Alex Neil: Housing Association Grant is available to registered social landlords to acquire land or buildings and to build, convert or improve housing for rent or low cost home ownership.

  The following table provides details of the Housing Association Grant awarded to each registered social landlord in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last three financial years, expressed in real terms.

  

 Registered Social Landlord
Dundee 2006-07
  (£ million)
Dundee 2007-08
  (£ million)
Dundee 2008-09
  (£ million)
Angus 2006-07
  (£ million)
Angus 2007-08
  (£ million)
Angus 2008-09
(£ million)


 Abertay Housing Association Ltd
 0.503
 1.842
 0.641
 0
 0
 0


 Angus Housing Association Ltd
 0.141
 1.002
 0.038
 3.317
 4.758
 2.566


 Ark Housing Association Ltd
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0.001
 0


 Bield Housing Association Ltd
 0.0506
 0.098
 0.065
 0.021
 0.014
 0.01


 Cairn Housing Association Ltd
 0.007
 0.014
 0.003
 0
 0
 0.009


 Hillcrest Housing Association Ltd 
 3.315
 5.295
 3.348
 2.479
 0.750
 0.636


 Home in Scotland Ltd
 0.816
 3.572
 2.598
 0
 0
 0


 Margaret Blackwood Housing Association Ltd
 0.434
 2.124
 0.917
 0.751
 0.135
 0.009


 Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association
 3.497
 0.027
 0.03
 0
 0
 0


 Servite Housing Association (Scotland) Ltd
 3.599
 1.452
 0.714
 2.433
 1.872
 0.543


 Trust Housing Association Ltd
 0
 0
 0
 0.614
 0.014
 0.022


 Total
 12.363
 15.427
 8.354
 9.615
 7.545
 3.795



  Note: 1. The adjustment for inflation was calculated using the UK GDP deflator, values are expressed in 2008-09 prices.

Ministerial Meetings

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between ministers and the Presiding Officers regarding procedures of the Scottish Parliament.

Bruce Crawford: The Minister for Parliamentary Business meets the Presiding Officer on a regular basis to discuss a range of parliamentary matters, including parliamentary procedures.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the BMA about the decision to change the split of duties in new NHS consultant posts from 7.5 direct clinical care and 2.5 supporting professional activities to nine direct clinical care and one supporting professional activity.

Nicola Sturgeon: Section 4.2.2 of the current Consultant Grade Terms and Conditions of Service states that, "unless otherwise agreed, a full-time consultant will devote 7.5 programmed activities per week to direct clinical care, and 2.5 programmed activities to supporting professional activities". Flexibility around that mix of programmed activities has always been available under those terms and conditions of service and has been, and remains, a matter of negotiation between an employing NHS board and a prospective consultant employee. There has been no single decision in relation to that flexibility or to the ultimate split between direct clinical care and supporting professional activities for new consultant posts.

  That flexibility had resulted in new consultant posts being advertised on different bases between NHS boards in Scotland. In the interests of consistency of approach, the management steering group representing NHS Scotland employers issued guidance to all NHS boards earlier this year to the effect that all new consultant posts should be advertised on a starting basis of nine direct clinical care programmed activities to one supporting professional activity. I understand that this guidance is intended to maximise direct clinical care activity while ensuring that necessary supporting professional activity still takes place. The actual split of activity for any individual post is finally agreed between the service and the new consultant appointed; taking into account local circumstances and needs. Current experience shows that, where those circumstances and needs require it, the actual split will vary from the starting 9/1 position.

  I have received and responded to written and face-to-face representations from the BMA regarding the employer guidance on the consultant contract, as have my officials. In all of those discussions, the Scottish Government has made clear that the guidance was issued by the NHS employers, not the Scottish Government, and that any issues which arise from it are matters for NHS boards and the BMA.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget was for eco-schools in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and what it proposes to spend in 2010-11.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be given to Keep Scotland Beautiful between 2009 and 2011 to run the eco-schools programme.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to support the eco-schools programme until 2011.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to fund the secondary school development for eco-schools until 2011.

Keith Brown: Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) was granted Scottish Government core funding of £386,000 and £400,000 for financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively. KSB has confirmed acceptance of our grant offer of £425,000 for 2010-11.

  In addition KSB was granted two years project funding totalling £150,000, for a Secondary Schools Development Officer until October 2008. A further £75,000 was granted to continue the post until October 2009 and another £35,000 until March 2010, after which time KSB will subsume the work around secondary schools within core funding.

Scottish Water

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the ministerial objectives for Scottish Water for 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2014 will be finalised.

Stewart Stevenson: The Ministerial Objectives for the period 2010-15 were published on the 27 October 2009 and are available on the government’s website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/waterindustryscot/latest-news/swdirections.

Scottish Water

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation process was undertaken regarding the ministerial objectives for Scottish Water for 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2014.

Stewart Stevenson: The Ministerial Objectives for Scottish Water for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2014 were originally set following a public consultation by the previous administration in 2005. Minor alterations have been made to those original Objectives to reflect the requirements of new legislation and improved data. Stakeholders were consulted in July 2008 on these amendments.